Preface

Although numerous books, both theoretical and
practical, have been published on the subject of
bookbinding and the conservation of archival
materials, there would seem to be a need for one
that approaches the subject by examining the
meaning and usage of the many terms, expressions,
and names pertaining to the various subjects. The
nomenclature of bookbinding, its offshoots and
more recent progeny, has not, at least insofar as
the present writers have been able to determine,
been presented in a comprehensive dictionary,
although various aspects of the book and its
production have been explored in dictionary form,
sometimes superlatively, as in the American Paper
and Pulp Association's Dictionary of Paper and
John Carter's A B C for Book Collectors. The
authors of this volume hope that it will help fill
a considerable gap in the literature of
conservation, one that has for some time been all
too evident.

Although this dictionary is intended first and
foremost for those actively involved in one or
more aspects of the overall field of bookbinding
and book conservation, including bookbinders,
conservators of library and archival materials,
and the like, it is perhaps no less intended for
those working in related fields, such as
bibliography and librarianship, where the many
terms and expressions relating to the overall
field may be less familiar and even more confusing.

The compilers accept full responsibility for the
selection of terms for inclusion, as well as for
the even more difficult task of rejection. The
definitions themselves, although herein the
responsibility of the same persons, were, whenever
possible, drawn from the most authoritative
sources available (as indicated by the number in
parentheses at the end of a definition, which
refers to the Sources and Bibliography section)
and supplemented by the experience of the authors.
Even though the bibliography and sources cited
represent but a relatively small segment of the
extensive corpus of literature in the field of
conservation, we believe they provide a reasonably
good sampling and may benefit the reader by
offering an authoritative source for the terms and
sometimes providing a source for further
investigation. Definitions that do not cite a
source are entirely the responsibility of the
authors.

Where a term has more than one definition, each is
numbered and arranged in its descending order of
significance in relation to bookbinding.

The arrangement of the dictionary is
letter-by-letter, rather than word-by-word, which
means that, while the placement of terms such as
C-stage, or m.m. system, etc., will be within the
body of the respective letters of the alphabet,
and not at the beginning, there should be no
problem with locating hyphenated or one- or
two-word structures, such as springback, or the
more accepted spring-back, as long as the spelling
of the term is known. The same is true of fore
edge (correct), as opposed to foreedge (sometimes
used but awkward). (Foredge would be incorrect.)
Fore edge, it should be noted, is only hyphenated
when used as a modifier, e.g., fore-edge painting.
The arrangement of the dictionary, then, is:

The most common (sometimes simply the most
commonly encountered) form or spelling of a term
has been used, e.g., myrabolans, not myrabalans,
gauffered edges, not gauffred, gaufré, or
goffered, with the variations in spelling being
included with the bold-faced heading. Where a term
is also called by another name the synonym is
given at the end of the definition, e.g.:

See references have been used extensively, as have
see also references, which refer the reader to
other terms closely, or sometimes only indirectly,
related to the term being discussed. See also
references and cross references to the terms
defined in this dictionary which are cited within
the definition itself are set in small capitals,
e.g.:

There is always the problem of the extent to which
one wishes to go in defining any one term. While
there may be relatively little one can say, or
would want to say, about a material such as
Armenian bole, or a procedure such as lengthwise
lettering, one could offer quite a lengthy
discourse on the finer considerations of break or
the molecular structure of glue. But this is a
dictionary, not an encyclopedia, a guide to the
vocabulary of a field, not a compendium on a
specific subject.

A number of persons, both near and far, have
generously contributed both their time and
expertise in evaluating and criticizing this work.
George Kelly, Research Scientist, Research and
Testing Office of the Library's Preservation
Office, read and commented on the chemical terms.
Harold Tribolet, retired, formerly Manager,
Graphic Conservation Department, R. R. Donnelly &
Sons, Chicago, Illinois, read and offered comments
on an earlier version of the work. Bernard
Middleton, of London, bookbinder and historian of
bookbinding and its related subjects, read and
offered extensive comments on the manuscript,
especially those terms relating to hand
bookbinding and bookbinding history. John
Chalmers, bibliophile and former Librarian of the
Washington Cathedral Library, Mount Saint Alban,
Washington, D.C., read the final version and wrote
many pages of comments and criticism. Betty
Roberts read and reread several manuscripts and
proofread still others. Margaret Schaffer typed
the final manuscript and also read the galleys and
page proof. Our deep and heartfelt thanks to all.